TOP 25
NO. 20 BOISE STATE 42, NEVADA LAS VEGAS 25
BOISE, Idaho -- Jeremy McNichols ran for 206 yards and a career-high four touchdown to help No. 22 Boise State beat UNLV 42-25 on Friday night.
Boise State (10-1, 6-1) kept its Mountain West title hopes alive and reached 10 victories for the second time in three seasons under head Coach Bryan Harsin. After passing Western Michigan in the College Football Playoff rankings this week, the Broncos also remain in contention for a Cotton Bowl berth.
The Rebels (4-7, 3-4) lost for fifth time in five tries at Boise State, managing only 302 yards of total offense, their second-lowest output of the season.
UNLV also struggled defensively, unable to bottle up the nation's fifth-leading rusher. McNichols leads the country in scoring with 156 points, 36 more than the next closest player.
"(McNichols) did a good job of bouncing to the outside and breaking contain," UNLV Coach Tony Sanchez said. "We had him dead to rights a few times, but just weren't able to tackle in space. And that killed us."
McNichols registered his third 200-yard game of the season, matching Jay Ajayi's school record.
"I said before the game that something felt special about tonight," McNichols said. "When you get in that groove, you feel like every touch could go the distance. And it felt like that tonight."
After UNLV converted a fumble into a field goal on Boise State's opening possession, the Broncos went on a 19-play, 74-yard drive -- their longest of the season -- and took a 7-3 lead on quarterback Brett Rypien's 1-yard run.
The Broncos followed that drive up with their shortest after a 73-yard punt return by Cedrick Wilson set up Boise State's offense at the UNLV 6. On the only play of the drive the Broncos ran, McNichols bounced outside and won a footrace to the corner of the end zone for the touchdown, giving Boise State a 14-3 first quarter lead.
That early lead helped set the tone for Boise State as UNLV never really threatened to make the game competitive.
Rypien finished with 109 yards on 10-of-20 passing. Career receiving leader Thomas Sperbeck had five catches for 47 yards in his final regular-season home game.
UNLV's Kurt Palandech passed for 113 yards, completing 10 of 20 passes. He also led the team in rushing with 64 yards.
The Rebels have already topped last season's victory total of three games, but they will look to finish strong with a victory in their finale a week from today. With a victory, the Rebels could lock up second place in the West division and set their eyes on getting bowl eligible next year.
The Broncos' defense delivered one of their most dominant performances of the season as the entire team seems to peaking at the right time. In the three games since its last-minute loss on the road at Wyoming, Boise State has committed only one turnover and averaged more than 48 points a game, while limiting opponents to just over 21.
MEMPHIS 34, CINCINNATI 7
CINCINNATI -- Jason Stewart threw two touchdown passes and Doroland Dorceus ran for two more scores to lead Memphis to a victory over Cincinnati.
Memphis (7-4, 4-3 American Athletic) has beaten Cincinnati in three consecutive games.
Stewart tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Joey Magnifico, and a 22-yard scoring strike to Anthony Miller. Stewart had 138 yards passing after replacing starting quarterback Riley Ferguson after the Tigers' first possession.
Dorceus ran for two scores inside the 8-yard line and finished with 66 yards rushing on 13 carries.
Hayden Moore threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Devin Gray early in the fourth quarter for Cincinnati (4-7, 1-6), which gained just 99 yards in the first half and finished with 244 yards of offense. Moore was 23 of 34 for 144 yards and threw two interceptions.
Sports on 11/19/2016